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Nonprofit · EIN 52-1469738

EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Financials

$21.2M$22.7M2022$24M$25.1M2023$23.4M$24M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
August 31, 2025990$23,406,772$23,986,551-$579,779$40,999,909$9,333,052$31,666,857
August 31, 2024990$23,999,649$25,056,566-$1,056,917$41,853,650$9,592,153$32,261,497
August 31, 2023990$21,173,089$22,713,463-$1,540,374$41,483,131$9,129,925$32,353,206
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$21,923,578
of which government grants
$1,108,794
Membership dues
$459,500
Program service revenue
$133,666
Investment income
$1,259,900
Net gain from sales of assets
$769,234
Other revenue
$89,628

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$12,587,486
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$424,273
Other salaries and wages
$4,365,584
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$6,426,775
Professional fundraising fees
$323,583
Legal fees
$3,450
Accounting fees
$765,957
Occupancy
$675,650
Travel
$392,155
Depreciation
$118,713
Program services (functional)
$17,294,658
Management and general (functional)
$3,704,346
Fundraising (functional)
$2,987,547

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$41,853,650
Total assets, end of year
$40,999,909
Total liabilities, end of year
$9,333,052
Net assets, end of year
$31,666,857
Land, buildings and equipment
$199,626
Publicly traded securities
$14,676,084
Net assets without donor restrictions
$5,664,333
Net assets with donor restrictions
$26,002,524
Gross receipts
$40,648,451
Employees
51
Volunteers
26
Year formed
1986
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
VERNA WILLIAMSCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$364,866$60,112
TIMOTHY S WIERZBICKICHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$324,512$36,585
MIA SUSSMAN SR VPSENIOR VP OF NETWORK ENGAGEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$233,027$29,078
MICHAEL FUTRELL EXECUTIVEVP AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$206,274$39,925
KRISTEN UHLER-MCKEOWNDIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$204,054$36,025
AOIFE DELARGY LOWEVP OF LSEA
Highest-paid employee
40$195,262$27,946
FRANK R JIMENEZCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMI MCKEONVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMES CHOSYTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JENNIFER SCHOTTSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BRACKETT B DENNISTON IIIMEMBER UNTIL 12/2024
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JONATHAN CHIELMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL FRICKLASMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KATHRYN FRITZMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MOLLY GIGUIEREMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
20 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DEAN RISA GOLUBOFFMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
FATIMA GOSS GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
HONORABLE JAMES E GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ERNEST LAMONT GREERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
JOHN HUESTONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ERIN JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
RAMIAH JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
TRACIE JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KIM KOOPERSMITHMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARYANNE LAVANMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DAVID LEVINEMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
VIVIAN MARTINEZMEMBER UNTIL 12/2024
Trustee or director
1$0
STEVE MCMANUSMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
MARC H MORIALMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
CAMILLE NELSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
HONORABLE CORNELIA TLPILLARD; MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
ABID RIAZ QURESHIMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
KACE RODWELLMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
DONALD B VERRILLI JRMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
TERESA YOUNGERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 37 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
VERNA WILLIAMSCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$345,499$55,351
TIMOTHY S WIERZBICKICHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$295,951$41,886
MIA SUSSMAN SR VPOF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$235,151$24,548
AOIFE DELARGY LOWEVP OF LSEA
Highest-paid employee
40$205,025$30,801
KRISTEN UHLER-MCKEOWNDIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$212,771$19,774
SARAH LACKRITZVP OF MARKETING AND COMM.
Highest-paid employee
40$212,951$1,184
KATHRYN J FRITZCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
FRANK R JIMENEZVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JONATHAN CHIELTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMI MCKEONSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMES CHOSYMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRACKETT B DENNISTON IIIMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL FRICKLASMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
IVAN FONGMEMBER UNTIL 12/2023
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MOLLY GIGUIEREMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEAN RISA GOLUBOFFMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
FATIMA GOSS GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HONORABLE JAMES E GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERNEST LAMONT GREERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL HARDINGMEMBER UNTIL 12/2023
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN HUESTONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIN JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TRACIE JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KIM KOOPERSMITHMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARYANNE LAVANMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVID LEVINEMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
VIVIAN MARTINEZMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
STEVE MCMANUSMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARC H MORIALMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CAMILLE NELSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HONORABLE CORNELIA TLPILLARD; MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ABID RIAZ QURESHIMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KACE RODWELLMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JENNIFER SCHOTTMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DONALD B VERRILLI JRMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JULIA WILSONMEMBER UNTIL 12/2023
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TERESA YOUNGERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 38 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
DAVID STERN EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR UNTIL 09/22 (SEE SCH J)
Officer
40$465,756$55,234
TIMOTHY S WIERZBICKICHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Highest-paid employee
40$294,814$36,430
JANIE PAYNEVP OF ADMINISTRATION UNTIL 08/23
Highest-paid employee
40$210,226$39,801
SARAH LACKRITZVP OF MARKETING AND COMM.
Highest-paid employee
40$217,078$24,187
MIA SUSSMAN SR VPOF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$212,236$22,789
KRISTEN UHLER-MCKEOWNDIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$210,066$14,430
SARA MORELLOFORMER EXECUTIVE VP
Former
0$182,481$12,150
VERNA WILLIAMSCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AS OF 09/22
Officer
40$173,453$9,632
KATHRYN J FRITZCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
FRANK R JIMENEZVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JONATHAN CHIELTREASURER AS OF 01/23
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
SHARON RYANTREASURER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JAMI MCKEONSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
BRACKETT B DENNISTON IIIMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOHN FARRELMEMBER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director
1$0$0
IVAN K FONGMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEAN RISA GOLUBOFFMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
FATIMA GOSS GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HONORABLE JAMES E GRAVESMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERNEST LAMONT GREERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL HARDINGMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GARRY W JENKINSMEMBER UNTIL 05/23
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIN JOHNSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KIM KOOPERSMITHMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARYANNE LAVANMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
VIVIAN MARTINEZMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
STEVE MCMANUSMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOSHUA MEDINAMEMBER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARC H MORIALMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ZAKIA NESBITTMEMBER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director
1$0$0
HONORABLE CORNELIA TLPILLARD; MEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JULIETTE PRYORMEMBER UNTIL 05/23
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ABID RIAZ QURESHIMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KACE RODWELLMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JONATHAN SELBINMEMBER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director
1$0$0
WILLIAM TREANORMEMBER UNTIL 12/22
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DONALD B VERRILLI JRMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JULIA WILSONMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1730 M ST NW STE 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-4551
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
VERNA L WILLIAMS, 1730 M STREET NW 800, WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Signed the 990
VERNA L WILLIAMS, CEO
Phone
(202) 466-3686
Return prepared by
CBIZ ADVISORS LLC

Mission

EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAWYERS TO TRANSFORM THEIR PASSION FOR EQUAL JUSTICE INTO A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LEGAL FELLOWSHIPS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST:EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS SUPPORTED 181 DESIGN YOUR OWN FELLOWS SERVING IN TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIPS AT 82 HOST ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 47 CITIES IN 22 STATES. THROUGH THE DYO FELLOWSHIP, FELLOWS DESIGN AND LEAD INNOVATIVE LEGAL SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS UNMET LEGAL NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE LAUNCHING LONG-TERM CAREERS IN PUBLIC INTEREST LAW. DYO FELLOWS PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, POLICY AND ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN AREAS SUCH AS VETERANS' BENEFITS, CIVIL RIGHTS, ACCESS TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND VOTING RIGHTS. IN ADDITION TO THE DYO PROGRAM, EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS SUPPORTED 70 FELLOWS THROUGH SIX UNIQUE ISSUE FOCUSED FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING CRIME VICTIMS, DISASTER SURVIVORS, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, AND THOSE FACING HOUSING AND FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. THESE FELLOWS WORKED AT 56 LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THESE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AIM TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHILE ALSO CREATING BROADER IMPACT THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING. AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE CRIME VICTIMS ADVOCACY PROGRAM PLACED 20 FELLOWS TO SERVE SURVIVORS OF CRIME. THE FELLOWS COLLECTIVELY SERVED OVER 2,300 INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND EDUCATED MORE THAN 2,000 COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL ACCESS.
    Expenses $15,977,121 · grants $12,587,486
  • LAW SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY:EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LAW STUDENTS AND LAWYERS DEDICATING ALL OR PART OF THEIR CAREERS TO PUBLIC SERVICE BY ENGAGING AND COLLABORATING WITH LAW SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, AND ATTORNEYS. EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS MAINTAINS A ROBUST LAW SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 90% OF ABA-ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS, AND HELPS ENSURE THOSE MEMBERS KNOW OF AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS, INCLUDING FELLOWSHIPS DESCRIBED ABOVE AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMING FOR LAW STUDENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SHORT-TERM SUMMER STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAMS. THE RURAL SUMMER LEGAL CORPS (RSLC) PROGRAM IS A JOINT PARTNERSHIP OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC) AND EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS. THE RSLC PROGRAM CONNECTS PUBLIC INTEREST LAW STUDENTS WITH CIVIL LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS PRESSING LEGAL ISSUES FACING RURAL COMMUNITIES. IN THE SUMMER OF 2025, 50 STUDENT FELLOWS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM FROM 36 LAW SCHOOLS. DURING THEIR SUMMER, RSLC STUDENT FELLOWS COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 15,000 HOURS TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES, WITH 5,560 HOURS SPENT ON DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES. THESE STUDENT FELLOWS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN 218 OUTREACH EVENTS, CREATED OR EXPANDED MORE THAN 153 COLLABORATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND PROVIDED LEGAL INFORMATION TO MORE THAN 2,339 INDIVIDUALS. THE DISASTER RESILIENCE PROGRAM HOSTED 5 STUDENTS ALONGSIDE POST-GRADUATE FELLOWS THIS SUMMER, AND THOSE STUDENTS HELPED WITH LEGAL RESEARCH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF THOSE FELLOWSHIP PROJECTS.
    Expenses $1,317,537 · revenue $133,666

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025August 31, 2026January 15, 2027Not due yet
2024August 31, 2025January 15, 2026990 on file
2023August 31, 2024January 15, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-1469738
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1986
Accounting year ends
August
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$40,999,909
Income (IRS master file)
$40,648,451

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990August 2025$23,406,772$23,986,551$40,999,909XML
990August 2024$23,999,649$25,056,566$41,853,650XML
990August 2023$21,173,089$22,713,463$41,483,131XML
990August 2022$23,316,842$20,442,752$34,685,624IRS
990August 2021–––IRS
990August 2020–––IRS
990August 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1469738).

Questions about EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS

What is the EIN of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS?
The employer identification number (EIN) of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS is 52-1469738.
Is EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.
Are donations to EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
Who is the principal officer of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names VERNA L WILLIAMS.
Who are the officers and directors of EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 35 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $364,866 (VERNA WILLIAMS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
How much revenue does EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS have?
On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $23,406,772, expenses of $23,986,551 and total assets of $40,999,909 at year end.

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